Chapter 84
Chapter 84
“What did Uncle… send over?”
The sky had yet to fully brighten, but Mu Tingting was already seated before her dressing mirror.
Today, Empress Zhang had summoned her once more. At last, she had a chance to enter the palace.
Her hair had only just been arranged when a maid came to deliver something, claiming that Vice Minister Mu had entrusted someone early that morning to send it over.
Mu Tingting was so excited that her hands and feet trembled. She quickly rose in person to receive it.
After she and Mu Zheng had parted that day, the two of them had quietly agreed on a secret signal. If the matter succeeded, he would have someone send something over.
If the number of items sent was odd, it would mean there had been no progress regarding Fu Tower.
If it was even, it meant there was already a lead.
And what the maid delivered were two wooden boxes.
Mu Tingting’s heart trembled even harder, and she asked, “Did the person who brought these leave any message?”
The maid replied, “Miss Xia, that person said this is a token of Vice Minister Mu’s regard. As for the item inside the rosewood box, he asks that you keep it with you at all times.”
Mu Tingting understood at once.
To avoid arousing suspicion, she did not ask anything further and simply had Ying’er give the maid a reward.
Only after the maid had left did she open both boxes.
Inside the plain wooden box were several pieces of jewelry, none of them particularly remarkable.
But inside the rosewood box was a single pearl.
Mu Tingting did not understand Mu Zheng’s intention, but seeing how lustrous and translucent the pearl was, clearly no ordinary thing at a glance, she liked it very much. She had Ying’er place it into a brocade pouch and bring it along.
Around the hour of Chen, she and the Marquise rode in the same carriage into the Imperial City.
To show her regard, Empress Zhang had long since ordered an elderly palace attendant to prepare a sedan chair and wait at the palace gate to welcome them.
After all, this was Mu Tingting’s first time entering the palace. She was extremely nervous; with every step she took, she felt as if her heart were hanging by a thread, terrified she might make the slightest mistake.
After much difficulty, they finally reached Empress Zhang’s Phoenix Palace. From afar, she caught a glimpse of the imperial countenance, and her heart leaped straight into her throat.
“The Marchioness of Renxuan, Lady Rong, has brought Xia Ximo, daughter of the Great General Protecting the State, to request an audience.”
After the eunuch announced them, Mu Tingting properly followed behind the Marquise through the palace doors and performed the full ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows.
Since this was a formal summons, Empress Zhang was also the picture of grace and dignity today, seated upright in the center of the hall.
Only after the ceremony was complete did she smile and invite them forward to take their seats.
However, the moment she saw Mu Tingting’s face clearly, a trace of doubt visibly flashed through Empress Zhang’s eyes.
She even asked without thinking, “Is this Miss Xia’s first time entering the palace?”
The question left both Mu Tingting and Lady Rong puzzled.
Mu Tingting’s heart grew even more panicked. Forcing down her alarm, she answered, “Replying to Her Majesty the Empress, Ximo… has indeed entered the palace for the first time.”
After a slight pause, she added, “During these days while staying at the Marquis Mansion, I often heard the Marquise speak of Your Majesty. I have long admired you in my heart, and today I have finally been granted the chance to see you with my own eyes.”
As she spoke, she seized the opportunity to present the nine-colored brocade pouch she had embroidered herself.
After looking it over, Empress Zhang praised it without end. “You child, not only is your tongue sweet, even your hands are so skillful.”
After that, she also ordered people to bestow several rewards upon her.
They sat in Phoenix Palace for a while, and then several more noblewomen arrived one after another.
Once everyone was present, the group proceeded directly to the Imperial Garden to admire the plum blossoms.
Mu Tingting had long heard Rong Shu say that the royal gardens were vast, nearly the size of half the Marquis Mansion. Only now, standing within them herself, did she realize those words had not been exaggerated in the slightest.
Her heart was filled with admiration, yet for some inexplicable reason, she thought of her mother, Lady Fan, and her eyes began to sting.
After they had strolled for quite some time, Empress Zhang invited everyone to a nearby flower hall with a warm chamber to drink tea and rest.
Just then, a young girl in purple robes entered the hall directly, surrounded by palace attendants.
The moment she arrived, she came with an aggressive air.
“Ruozhen greets Her Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless fortune and peace.”
Everyone in the hall recognized her as Princess Ding’an, the emperor’s most beloved daughter, and rose to their feet one after another.
Mu Tingting was a beat slower to react, but she quickly stood as well.
Empress Zhang immediately raised a hand to excuse them from formalities, then smiled at Princess Ding’an. “Princess, what brings you here? Did you not say this morning that the weather was too cold and you would not be coming?”
Princess Ding’an said, “I heard someone new had come today, someone I had never met before, so I came specially to have a look.”
Her gaze shifted, and she asked the people beside her, “Which one is the daughter of the Great General Protecting the State?”
At first listen, Mu Tingting realized with some surprise that the princess had come for her. Still, she forced herself to remain composed, stood, and curtsied to Princess Ding’an. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Princess Ding’an took a few steps closer as well, her eyes sweeping Mu Tingting up and down. “I heard you and the Young Marquis of Renxuan Marquis Manor were betrothed when you were children?”
The moment those words were spoken, the onlookers understood.
She was clearly here to pick a fight.
Mu Tingting knew nothing of the twists and turns behind it, so she simply replied, “Yes.”
Princess Ding’an’s expression shifted, faintly betraying a trace of resentment. She then asked, “Can you ride and shoot?”
The question made Mu Tingting pause slightly, but she still answered honestly, “No…”
Princess Ding’an lifted her chin and said with perfect seriousness, “Your father is the renowned Great General Protecting the State. I had thought that the daughter of a military commander would naturally be skilled in riding, archery, and martial arts. After all, only a woman like that would be worthy of Brother Feng.”
Mu Tingting’s face flushed and paled by turns. Just as she was weighing her words and unsure how to respond, Empress Zhang quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Ruozhen, mind your manners.”
Though Princess Ding’an had been reprimanded, she did not seem to care. She even stuck out her tongue and acted sweetly. “Your Majesty, Ruozhen was only asking out of curiosity.”
Out of consideration for Lady Rong’s dignity, Empress Zhang immediately said sternly, “Miss Xia and Young Marquis Ren were betrothed before birth. This is not a matter you may speak of so recklessly.”
Princess Ding’an’s words had, in truth, been meant for the Marquise to hear. She secretly glanced at Lady Rong’s expression, then said to Mu Tingting with great reluctance, “Then I apologize to you.”
Mu Tingting felt utterly humiliated inside, but she could not show the slightest hint of it on her face. She only said, “There is no need for Your Highness to apologize.”
Seeing this, Empress Zhang offered a few more polite remarks, finally keeping the atmosphere from growing too stiff.
However, after the princess’s little scene, it felt as if a thorn had been lodged in Mu Tingting’s heart.
When she sat back down, she kept feeling as though the people around her were looking at her with mockery in their eyes.
Lady Rong noticed her unease. After Empress Zhang and the others moved out of the flower hall, she took Mu Tingting by the hand and led her aside to comfort her.
“The princess is still young, and she has known Feng’er since childhood. She has always treated him like an elder brother.”
“You must not take those words of hers to heart.”
After listening to Lady Rong, Mu Tingting did not feel any better. Instead, she grew even more restless and anxious.
She touched her forehead and said to Lady Rong, “Madam, I seem to be a little dizzy. May I rest here for a while?”
Lady Rong felt sorry for her and patted her hand again. “Of course. Rest here. I will speak to Her Majesty the Empress.”
After everyone left one after another, only a few palace maids remained in the flower hall to tidy up.
Ying’er pointed to a small couch not far away and asked, “Miss, shall we rest over there for a while?”
Mu Tingting truly did feel dizzy and stifled in the chest, so she nodded.
Just as she was about to go over, something seemed to flash before her eyes. Then, faintly, she heard a palace maid beside her sneer.
“A fake, and she really thinks she’s the real one.”